About me
Gerry started painting at a very early age and even as a young child her desire to be an artist was constant – she states herself, “it is all I’ve ever wanted to do”. This passion culminated in her obtaining her degree in fine art where she studied under the likes of Jeff Makin, Anthony Proir and Jim Meldrrum.
Her subjects vary from bright still life and expressive landscapes to swirling full-bodied seascapes. Notably, all works show a love of movement and intense colour, to “nourish and inspire the viewer with their warmth and powerful composition as she uses colour and line to feed the soul” (David O’Halloran, Glen Eira City Gallery).
As she states “I am profoundly moved by colour, often a whole subject of a painting can be based around a colour inspiration and I cannot get it on canvas quickly enough! I paint in a predominately expressive style focusing on the life force within the subject …more as I feel the subject rather than how I see it, often with a naïve bent of simple joy”
Gerry’s move to the Mornington Peninsula was a deliberate and inspiring one. After much hard work she was able to pursue her vocation at full speed, with the purchase of large studio space her beloved purpose built printmaking press and a spectacularly beautiful rural landscape and garden to provide her with ever changing subjects to paint and produce her unique linocut prints.
Gerry’s unique linocut prints are created in the reduction method, used notably by Picasso. One block is used the lino block is cut away as every new colour is printed, until there is no lino left. Gerry individually crafts each piece in the studio so consequently each is slightly unique, being done by hand with great care. They are very limited editions, usually from only five to fifteen ever made. Often, these linocuts are inspired by Gerry’s garden where she spends much time amongst her flowers with her chickens and other pets in tow!
Gerry’s work has developed a large following locally and nationally and her work is held in private, government and international private collections.
Curriculum Vitae
2012 – Christmas Exhibition – Manyung Gallery
2012 – Exhibition in Ferrara at Castello Estence Ferrara Italy
2012 – Series of professional art cards printed sold in retail outlets online and at art shows
2011 – Exhibition – Manyung Gallery
2011 – Exhibition – Art Red Hill
2011 – Exhibition – Canterbury Art Show
2010 – Radio Interview 2010 – Guest artist Derinya Art Show
2010 – Exhibition – Canterbury Art Show
2009 – ‘Melbourne The pulse of a nation ‘Linocut’ acquired for Derinya Primary School new Building
2009 – Best Modern cash prize at Derinya Art show
2009 – Exhibition – Manyung Gallery 40th Birthday show “Reflections of the Mornington Peninsula”
2009 – Exhibition – Canterbury Art Show
2009 – Exhibition – Art Melbourne (Exhibition buildings April)
2008 – Exhibition – Manyung Gallery (annual December Show)
2008 – Semi-finalist “Signature of M” Australia’s richest art prize (for linocut “Melbourne the Pulse of a Nation”)
2008 – Derinya Art Show – Art Show People’s Choice award (oil painting “Blissed Out”)
2008 – Derinya Art Show – Highly Commended Prize
2008 – Paintings and prints exhibited at Conrad’s Restaurant, Mt Eliza
2007 – Exhibition – Manyung Gallery
2006 – Judge of Flinders Christian Collage Art show
2006 – Derinya Art show – Highly commended prize for other medium (linocut)
2005 – Returns to full time painting in studio in Mt Eliza
2004 – Art cards produced featuring original paintings and prints, sold at various outlets
2000 – Teaches linocut printmaking at Beaumaris Art Centre to adult art class
1998 – Joint exhibition “For the Love of Colour” with Margarita Kravitsky, Russian painter – Glen Eira Gallery
1990 – Diploma of Education, La Trobe University
1987 – Bachelor of Fine Art, Major, Painting, History of Art – Distinction Aesthetics- Distinction R.M.I.T. 1987 – Exhibition – R.M.I.T. Story Hall Gallery
1986 – Exhibition – Sheldrick’s Gallery, Chapel St, Prahran
1984 – Completes first year Visual Communication R.M.I.T
1983 – T.O.P. at Art R.M.I.T